The Epiphany Star March 2011

Transcription

1 The Epiphany Star March 2011 Newsletter of Epiphany Lutheran Church Fort Wayne, Indiana Dear Epiphany, Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen Remember when you were a kid the old saying, Sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me? How true is that? We may have wanted it to be true but isn t. Words can be just as hurtful and just as painful as a broken bone or cut. We may have wanted to think that the things our friends were saying didn t really hurt us but they did. Bullying is a hot topic today in our education system. For the longest time it was ignored and people thought it was just something you either put up with or worked it out some way. Often times Christians are considered weak and would just roll over during confrontations. The Scripture passage from Matthew 5:38-42 is often quoted, You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you (Matt. 5:38-42 NRSV). Our natural instinct is to retaliate when someone strikes us or says something evil against us. We want to make them hurt as much as they have hurt us. Does that really solve anything? Usually what that does is makes the matter worse than it was in the first place. So as Christians, are we being called upon to be doormats and let people walk all over us? It is important for us to prioritize what is important and what isn t important. It is also important for us to watch what it is that we say and write. We live in a culture that teaches us that we need to be politically correct in everything we say. Yet, I think it is important that not only be politically correct but find ways in which we build up the Body of Christ instead of seek ways to tear it down. For too long it has been thought that everyone in Church needs to be happy and if you aren t happy then there is something wrong with you or the church you belong too. That is a real dream! Are you always happy in every relationship you have? I would hope in our relationships that if we were to take an average that we would be happy but there are times when we won t be happy. Any relationship takes time and 1

2 energy on behalf of both parties involved to make it a success. If you are only willing to give fifty percent, then the relationship is going to fail! During this Season of Lent (beginning with Ash Wednesday on March 9) let us take some time to look and pray about the relationships we have in our lives. What kind of relationship do you have with Jesus Christ? What kind of relationship do you have with your spouse and family? What kind of relationship do you have with your friends? Do you really support them or are you there as long as they don t cross you or do something that you don t like? Let us make a promise to God and to one another that we will work on building up the Body of Christ. To seek out ways in which we use our words and our acts to live out what Jesus would want us to do - Love one another. Blessings to you and may this Season of Lent help you take a closer walk with our Lord. In Christ, Pastor Richard Hartman We are Christians, called by God, committed to: Sharing the Gospel, Serving others as Christ taught us, and Creating disciples for witness. Epiphany Lutheran Church s Vision Statement: A Christian family of God committed to sharing the Gospel and serving others, through joyful worship, education and fellowship. Join us for the Men s Saturday Morning Bible Study on March 12 th at 7:00 am, as we continue our study based on the new Bible Study written by former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy. He sheds some great insights as to how Scripture can fit into our everyday life and why it is vital that we have this happen. 2

3 Pastor s office..pastor@epiphanyfw.com Jodi s office.. jodi@epiphanyfw.com Pastor s home rlhart49@verizon.net WEB SITES: Epiphany Lutheran Church Please feel free to stop in or call for any of your Pastoral needs. Our office hours are as follows: Pastor: Sunday - Thursday 7:30am-2:30 pm and some Saturdays as well as Mondays and Wednesday evenings. Jodi: Mondays 12:30 pm - 3:15 pm, Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:15 am - 3:15 pm. * Due to unusual circumstances, these hours may be subject to change. Written by: Kurt Unrue Epiphany s Youth Group will be having a fundraiser on Saturday, March 26 th at Granite City Brewery and Food on Coldwater Road across from Target. It is a lunch from 11 AM to 3 PM. The youth will have presale tickets available at $ You will take the tickets to the restaurant on that Saturday. They will have a special menu for you to order off of. We split the sales from the tickets with the restaurant 50/50. The Youth hopes to start selling tickets Sunday, March 6 th and there will also be tickets available at the door on that Saturday, March 26 th as well. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Kurt. 3

4 Our March Lenten Supper Schedule: March 9 th Hosted by our Fellowship Committee Serving Spaghetti dinner March 16 th Hosted by our Youth Serving Sloppy Joes March 23 rd Hosted by our Council Committee Serving Chicken & Noodles March 30 th Hosted by our Choir Serving Tacos Please join us for each of these fellowship opportunities, and then for worship which follows at 7:00 pm during this Lent Season. The Midweek Lenten Services this year will be Evening Prayer Vespers using the Lutheran Book of Worship. 4

5 March 6 th : Transfiguration of Our Lord Exodus 24: Peter 1:16-21 Matthew 17:1-9 March 13 th : First Sunday in Lent Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7 Romans 5:12-19 Matthew 4:1-11 Join us for worship this month! Every Sunday at 8:00 am and 10:15 am. Every Monday at 7:00 pm. Wednesdays in Lent at 7:00 pm Sunday School classes for all ages are at 9:00 am! March 20 th : Second Sunday in Lent Genesis 12:1-4a Romans 4:1-5, John 3:1-17 March 27 th : Third Sunday in Lent Exodus 17:1-7 Romans 5:1-11 John 4:5-42 Comfort ye my People Join us Sunday, March 20th at 9:00 am for CYMP. We will be making quilts for those who need warmth and protection from the elements. See you then! 5

6 These members and loved ones of our congregation are being remembered in daily prayer: Gerry Parker, Norma Clausman, Allan Longroy, Chet Sutter, Tom, Vicky Downend, Earl Crowley, Mary Lou Dickerson, Tim Thompson, David Williams, Kaydence Snetsinger, Edward, Margaret Johnson, Stacy Miller, Jean Williams, Jeanne Stanley, Jacob Nugent, Alex, Diane Hook, Chuck VanGorder, Les Arnold, Patricia Burchette, Ron Barnhart, Christopher Mosely, Tim, Al Christensen, Megan L. Susan Lacroix, Ed Cunningham, Seath Karney & family, Nancy Lee & family, Jennifer, Sidney, and Sarah Hoover, Logan Miller, Joyce McGiffin, Lois Markoff, Bev Blanchard, Siegrid Belden, and Eileen Stroup. These servicemen are also being lifted up in prayer daily: Justin Jancso & Logan Miller We pray that God will return our loved ones to good health and bring our service men and women home safely! Our Prayer Circle members love to offer up prayers of thanksgiving! Please help us keep our Prayer List up-to-date. New Woman s Bible Study Group! Liz Nickel continues to lead our Woman s Bible Study Group. The evenings this group will be meeting will be the 2 nd and 4 th Thursdays of the month at 7:00 pm. Please join us on Thursday, March 10 th and the 24 th this month. Liz will be using a book written by Tom Wright called Jesus the New Way. All new participants are welcome and bring a friend! 6

7 March Baptismal Birthdays: Eric Hedin Sam Vonderau Jeffery Parker Felix Parker Lucy Davis Ron Michael Norma Clausman Sean McKenna Happy birthday to those who celebrate their second birthday during the month of March! Martin Luther said, When you wash your face remember your baptism. Take time to remember and celebrate with your family by using the special booklet Celebrating Your Baptismal Birthday (found in the narthex tract rack). Epiphany Welcomes Two New Members to our Family! Scott and Patty Mosely were born and raised in Illinois. They moved to the Fort Wayne area in They have three children: Jacob, Chris, and Courtney. Scott graduated from the University of Illinois and Patty currently attends Ivy Tech Community College. Scott is a field service engineer at Maxim Medical Services and Patty does Customer Service Support work at Tomkinson Autoland. Their interests and hobbies include playing golf, fishing, their dogs, and watching football and Nascar. They were looking for something different from the Catholic Church. They like how personal and inviting the congregation is here at Epiphany. Patty was raised in the Lutheran Faith and Epiphany made a perfect fit for them! 7

8 by Millie Lazzer Outreach March 2011 Thank you so much for all of the donations to our Souper Bowl. And thank you, Pastor Hartman, for delivering the 400 pounds of food to the Food Bank! March 9 th is Ash Wednesday which begins the season of Lent and also the start of our Fishes and Loaves collection for the Food Bank. Please donate cans of tuna, mackerel and salmon along with boxes of Tuna Helper and potato mixes. There is also a great need for canned fruit! What a big difference we can make in the lives of others, just by picking up a few extra items while grocery shopping. Parents Night Out will be held on Saturday, March 12 th from 6-9pm. Parents, please take this time to take a break from your parenting responsibilities to enjoy some spring weather. Parents Night Out includes children up though 3 rd grade. The cost is $5.00 per family as healthy snacks are provided. Please sign your children up. The sign-up sheet is on Jodi s door. 8

9 THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VOLUNTEERING AND BEING CALLED INTO GOD S SERVICE: 1 CHRONICLES 15:16-19: COLLOSSIANS 4:17: 1 TIMOTHY 1:12 When God has put His call on you, woe be to you if you turn to the right hand or to the left. He will do with you what He never did with you before the call came; He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way. Oswald Chambers Your calling is the place where your deepest joy and the world s greatest needs cross. Fredrick Buckner A volunteer puts in minimum effort, but someone called of God puts in maximum effort. A volunteer sits back and complains about this and that bothering him, but someone called of God leads a personal campaign to improve that which needs improvement. A volunteer feels threatened by the talent of others, but someone called by God feels secure in God s direction of his life. A volunteer does no outside practicing or preparation (after all he s just a volunteer), but someone who is called of God comes to rehearsals and a performance as prepared as possible. A volunteer wants to quit at the first sign of adversity or discouragement, but one called of God digs in and perseveres. A volunteer is oblivious to the needs of his ministry, but someone called of God prays over the needs of the ministry. A volunteer is more prone to jealousy of others, but one called of God praises God for distributing gifts and talents as He chooses. 9

10 March 6 March 13 March 20 March 27 LBW Setting 2 Taizé Taizé Taizé Organist / Pianist Sara Davis Sara Davis Sara Davis Amanda Pickett Assisting Minister Alicia Davis Dave Dawkins Krista Rumfield Melissa Hartman Lector 8:00 am Cheryl Ralston Bruce Cunningham Jared Meunier Deb Crawford Lector 10:15 am Molly Clinkenbeard Cathy Rumfield Bob Havers Krista Rumfield Acolyte Rozlynn Everhart Elizabeth Lohman Heith Everhart Jonathan Hartman Communion Assistant 8:00 am Communion Assistant 10:15 am Altar Guild Renee Meunier Cathy Rumfield Rhonda Everhart Daryl Butler Charlene Meunier Pat Butler Deb Crawford Mike Rumfield Nancy Lee Jodi McKenna Need Need Greeters Sandy & Lee Hedin Daryl & Pat Butler Everhart s Rumfield s Capt. Lee Hedin Pat Butler Sean Rumfield Sandy Hedin Steve Auman Krista Rumfield 10